Old Town Bicycle Road Race Team

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Props to Joel Jones this weekend who succeeded with Victory this Sunday at Mason Lake Road Race #1. Joel got into the breakaway of 4, leaving the Peloton gasping for minutes with a 3 minute gap! It was down to the sprint finish and our own prevailed. Congrats to you Joel!
Here is a recap from the infamous Tom Hackleman with his perspective:

"First, what a great start to our season for OTB Racing! The TT guys
and gals are amazing. And we don't even have our Cat 3's and 4's
report from M/L yet. Our race had an ideal team, weather, and
strategy. Swaneee, Nelson, Jones and Hack (we missed you Austin) were
just enough to cover any break attempts and there were several. We
knew that there were going to be some big breakaway efforts.
Swaneee got us through the first part of the race by
patrolling the front and not letting anything get up the road without
him. He definitely sacrificed himself for the team. Thanks, Swaneee.
Nelson and I were always near the front ready to chase or attack. Joel
was there also watching everything and waiting for his moment. Toward
the end of the second lap a six man break developed with the right
combo of teams and riders. Potter from Olympia and his teammate, a guy
from Tacoma bike, a guy with a rental #, another guy and Joel "The
Bullet" Jones. These guys were flying and I think finished about 3
mins. ahead of us. With three solid teams out of the chasing it was
pretty easy to discourage any real chase effort. However that break
was not going to get caught by any team or rider in our group.
Eventually two guys got dropped from the break so now there were just
4".

Thanks Hack, after the break, Joel cleaned up the kitchen with room for dessert!
Fantastic! GO OTB 2013!!!

Friday, December 2, 2011

WEEKEND TRAINING RIDE INFORMATION (PLEASE READ IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON RIDING WITH OUR TEAM):

TYPICAL RIDE LENGTHS ARE 2-4 HOURS AND BETWEEN 40-70 MILES. THE RIDE ROUTES VARY WEEK TO WEEK. RIDE PACE IS TYPICALLY 17-18 MPH (AVERAGE) DURING THE WINTER WITH AN INCREASE TO 19-20+ MPH (AVERAGE) AS THE RACING SEASON PICKS UP IN EARLY SPRING. THERE CAN ALSO BE SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE RIDE WHERE THE PACE PICKS UP SIGNIFICANTLY (25 MPH PLUS) FOLLOWED BY RECOVERY PERIODS. THUS, ONE CAN EXPECT (AND GET) A VERY HIGH QUALITY WORKOUT. THE GROUP DOES RECOGNIZE THAT DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE AT DIFFERING STAGES IN DEVELOPING CYCLING FITNESS AND/OR GROUP RIDING SKILLS. THE GROUP HAS EASY TEMPO PERIODS WHERE RIDERS ARE ABLE TO REFORM INTO THE GROUP OR TIMES WHEN GROUP RIDING SKILLS ARE PRACTICED. EXPERIENCED RIDERS ARE ALSO HAPPY TO PROVIDE GROUP RIDING, RACING, AND TRAINING GUIDANCE. THE RIDES ARE USUALLY FOLLOWED BY A REHYDRATION AND “BIKE BULL” SESSION AT THE NEARBY CUTTERS POINT IN TACOMA OR SUSANNES COFFEE SHOP/DELI IN GIG HARBOR.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE OLD TOWN BICYCLE ROAD RACE TEAM TO PARTICIPATE AND ENJOY THE OTB SATURDAY/SUNDAY RIDES. IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON JOINING US PLEASE BE SURE TO DO THE FOLLOWING:

1) IF IT'S WET HAVE FENDERS WITH A REAR MUD FLAP ON THE BIKE, 2) BE SURE YOUR BIKE IS IN GOOD MECHANICAL CONDITION---WE RECOMMEND TIRE LINERS TO REDUCE FLATS, 3) BRING NECESSARY ENERGY BARS AND FLUIDS TO SEE YOU THROUGH THE RIDE, 4) BRING A SPARE TUBE(S), TIRE LEVERS, PUMP OR INFLATION DEVICE, 5) BRING ID AND MONEY (PLUS A CELL PHONE IS A GOOD IDEA), 6) DRESS FOR THE WEATHER---IF IT'S WET/COLD PLAN ON A TIGHT FITTING RAIN JACKET, BOOTIES, FULL GLOVES, AND TIGHTS. 6) NARROWS VELO NOW REQUIRES ALL OF OUR "GUESTS" TO SIGN A RIDE WAIVER/RELEASE FORM THAT CAN BE OBTAINED BY THE RIDE LEADER (IF WE DON'T HAVE A SIGNED WAIVER ON FILE, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE). 7) WE URGE YOU TO ADHERE TO THE RULES OF THE ROAD AND ENCOURAGE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE RIDING. WE WANT TO HAVE FUN WHILE ON OUR TRAINING RIDES AND ADDITIONALLY “KEEP THE RUBBER ON THE ROAD”

THE "OPEN TRAINING" SEASON (MEANING OPEN TO ALL RIDERS) BEGINS SEPTEMBER 1ST AND ENDS ON DECEMBER 31ST. AFTER DECEMBER 31ST THE TEAM IS PREPARING FOR RACE SEASON AND WORKING ON DRILLS, TACTICS, AND TEAMWORK AND WILL NOT BE HAVING "OPEN RIDES" UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1ST ROLLS AROUND.

Monday, September 12, 2011

The Old Town Bicycle Racing Team would like to invite fellow bicyclists for a "Meet the Team Ride” at Point Defiance Park (main entrance) September 24, 2011 8:45 AM and rolling at 9:00 - look for us the main Park entry.

The Old Town Bicycle racing team consists of 50 team members who race primarily in Washington featuring National Champions, Senior Olympic medalists, Washington State Bicycling Association points’ leaders and numerous road race podium finishers. The ride provides an opportunity for those who have considered racing on a bicycle team or seek information on a bicycle racing to discuss with team members.

The ride will be divided into three groups A, B and C rider. C riders will be +/- 35 miles and will be a "no drop" ride. Groups A and B will be +/- 50 miles at a fast pace with opportunities to regroup. The route will take us over the Narrows Bridge, through Gig Harbor and out towards Olalla and back. A and B routes will continue onto the Southworth Ferry Terminal and back.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Also kudos go to Joel Jones for his (4th) 4th Place finish this season! Wow! Top 10's include: Matt Becker (7th Cat. 4's), and Chris Nelson (9th Mens Masters). In Oregon Steve Matson and Jeff Patterson raced (2) back to back 40K tandem time trials and placed 1st and 2nd! Way to go guys! Also had a couple of our guys involved in a crash in Ravensdale on the last lap. Get well Choi and Kevin!

More to come this weekend as we will be representing @ Wenatchee Omnium.

Weekend Training Ride Information (Please read if you are planning on riding with our team):

Typical ride lengths are 3-4 Hours and between 40-70 miles. The ride routes vary week to week. Ride pace is typically 17-18 mph (average) during the winter with an increase to 19-20+ mph (average) as the racing season picks up in early spring. There can also be several times during the ride where the pace picks up significantly (25 mph plus) followed by recovery periods. Thus, one can expect (and get) a very high quality workout. The group does recognize that different people are at differing stages in developing cycling fitness and/or group riding skills. The group has easy tempo periods where riders are able to reform into the group or times when group riding skills are practiced. Experienced riders are also happy to provide group riding, racing, and training guidance. The rides are usually followed by a rehydration and “bike bull” session at the nearby Cutters Point in Tacoma or Susannes coffee shop/deli in Gig Harbor.

You do not need to be a member of the Old Town Bicycle Road Race Team to participate and enjoy the OTB Saturday/Sunday rides. If you are planning on joining us please be sure to do the following:

1) If it's wet have fenders with a rear mud flap on the bike, 2) be sure your bike is in good mechanical condition---we recommend tire liners to reduce flats, 3) bring necessary energy bars and fluids to see you through the ride, 4) bring a spare tube(s), tire levers, pump or inflation device, 5) bring ID and money (plus a cell phone is a good idea), 6) dress for the weather---if it's wet/cold plan on a tight fitting rain jacket, booties, full gloves, and tights.6) Narrows Velo now requires all of our "guests" to sign a ride waiver/release form that can be obtained by the ride leader (if we don't have a signed waiver on file, you will not be able to participate).7) We urge you to adhere to the rules of the road and encourage safe and responsible riding. We want to have fun while on our training rides and additionally “keep the rubber on the road”

The "Open Training" season (meaning open to all riders) begins September 1st and ends on December 31st. After December 31st the team is preparing for race season and working on drills, tactics, and teamwork and will not be having "open rides" until September 1st rolls around.